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NBA: 5 Players Your Favorite Team Should Avoid Trading For

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 6, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 102-91.Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 102-91.Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut (6) rebounds the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the 1 quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Andrew Bogut

Andrew Bogut is an NBA champion, and on a more competitive team, his rebounding, rim protection, elite passing and “savvy” (read: illegal) screens might be a welcome addition. But he’s been a disappointment for the Dallas Mavericks this year and there are far too many red flags to make any fan base confident about trading for him.

For starters, Bogut’s numbers are down across the board, with the former No. 1 overall pick averaging 3.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in just 23.5 minutes per game. For reference, Bogut put up 5.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 20.7 minutes per game for a 73-win team last year.

In Dallas, Bogut’s declining speed has become more obvious with less talent around him. His field goal percentage has plummeted from 62.7 percent in 2015-16 to 45.1 percent this year, and the Mavs’ offense is seven points per 100 possessions better with the big Aussie on the bench.

Related Story: 10 Teams That Should Trade For Paul Millsap

Bogut isn’t completely washed though. Dallas’ defense is a staggering 12.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor, he’s hauling in rebounds and he provides an experienced touch to the back lines. Because of this, the Mavs will likely try to trade him in a lost season, in an attempt to cash in on his value while they can.

But at age 32, Bogut is no spring chicken anymore. He’s already missed 16 of the team’s 38 games due to injury, and in Dallas’ most recent game in Minnesota, he injured his hamstring. This is the same guy who missed the final two and a half games of the NBA Finals and spent his summer recovering from a knee injury.

Bogut is injury-prone, he’s 32, his game looks like it’s declining and he’d only be a two-month rental for whatever team trades for him, since he hits free agency this summer. We love that big Aussie, but only a team desperate for an experienced hand at center would consider giving up actual assets for him.